In the pharmaceutical world, there’s a huge competition to beat Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly’s popular obesity medications. Many companies are trying to create drugs that are stronger, easier to use, or have fewer side effects than Novo’s Wegovy and Lilly’s Zepbound. However, Novo and Lilly are also working on their next big drugs.
Over the next six months, important updates on several new drugs will give us a glimpse of the future of the obesity drug market, which is currently dominated by Lilly and Novo. Here’s a breakdown of what to watch:
**Zepbound vs. Wegovy:** Lilly is testing Zepbound, hoping it proves better than Wegovy for weight loss in people with obesity or overweight. Early results suggest Zepbound might help people lose more weight than Wegovy. If successful, this could make Lilly even more valuable.
**Novo’s New Drug:** Novo is developing a new drug called cagrisema, which combines two hormones to potentially offer better results. They’re testing it against Wegovy, and results are expected soon. This could help Novo compete with Lilly if Zepbound is shown to be better than Wegovy.
**Amgen’s Entry:** Amgen is working on an obesity drug called maritide, which is different because it targets hormones in a unique way and is a monthly shot instead of weekly. Early tests suggest it could be very effective, with more results expected by the end of the year.
**Obesity Pills:** Companies like Novo, Lilly, and Roche are developing pills as an alternative to injections, hoping people will prefer them. Roche’s new pill, CT-996, is in early testing stages, with promising results so far.
**Muscle Preservation:** Some obesity drugs also reduce muscle, which can be a problem. Veru is testing a drug called enobosarm to help maintain muscle mass while losing weight. Results are expected soon.
**New Drug Approaches:** Researchers are exploring new ways to treat obesity, like blocking certain receptors to control appetite. Novo faced setbacks with one such drug, but Skye Bioscience is testing another, with results expected in 2025.
Overall, the race to innovate obesity treatments is intense, with many companies aiming to create the next big breakthrough in the market.